2017 Schedule

Special Best of Fest:

Mary Pickford Theatres, Cathedral City

Friday, September 29

5:00 Theatre 12

Something Like Summer 115 min. Director's Choice

Something Like Summer is a musical romance based on the novel by Lambda Literary Award-winning novelist Jay Bell, the first of a series of books with a worldwide fanbase. The film adaptation tells the story of two boys whose secret relationship in high school appears to be doomed, only for them to encounter one another years later as friends and even enemies.

At its world premiere at Sydney's Mardi Gras Festival, Something Like Summer began receiving accolades, with Sydney radio 2ser host Jess Klajman calling the movie "stunning... absolutely a fantastic film, touching on bullying and betrayal and love and lust. People are going to love it."

Forced to give up his dreams of art school, Zach spends his days working a dead-end job and helping his needy sister care for her son. In his free time he surfs, draws and hangs out with his best friend, Gabe, who lives on the wealthy side of town. When Gabe's older brother, Shaun, returns home, he is drawn to Zach's selflessness and talent. Zach falls in love with Shaun while struggling to reconcile his own desires with the needs of his family.

7:30 Theatre 12

God's Own Country 104 min. Director's Choice

Johnny Saxby works long hours in brutal isolation on his family’s remote farm in the north of England. He numbs the daily frustration of his lonely existence with nightly binge-drinking at the local pub and casual sex. When a handsome Romanian migrant worker arrives to take up temporary work on the family farm, Johnny suddenly finds himself having to deal with emotions he has never felt before. An intense relationship forms between the two of them which could change Johnny’s life forever. Official Selection: Sundance Film Festival

7:30 Theatre 13

Market Value 132 min.

Fifteen years ago, a young woman (Valerie Whitaker) was admitted to the emergency room for a heroin overdose. As the doctors prepare to perform a detox procedure, they learn that she's pregnant, prompting an emergency delivery. During Valerie's recovery, a nurse (Audrey Stewart) overhears a conversation between Valerie and her boyfriend concerning the possibility of selling their newborn child on the black market. Shortly after Valerie is discharged from the hospital, Audrey reaches out to her anonymously as someone who is interested in purchasing the child. Fifteen years later, Valerie Whitaker, now several years sober and nationally recognized as an advocate for locating missing children, has died in search of the child she sold. However, the Whitaker family continues the search, and it eventually leads to Chicago, where Audrey now resides with her wife (Carrie Stewart) and their adopted 15 year old son.

Saturday, September 30

5:00 Theatre 12

Weirdos 85 min. Director's Choice

Nova Scotia. 1976. The weekend of the American Bicentennial. 15-year-old Kit (Dylan Authors) is running away from home to move in with his estranged mother and, hopefully, to find himself. With the help of his girlfriend Alice (Julia Sarah Stone), Kit hitchhikes through the stunning maritime landscape towards the home of his glamorous, artistic mother Laura (Molly Parker).

But as the kids near their final destination, the truth about their relationship and their identities begins to unfold. Stunningly shot in black and white and enhanced with a killer ‘70s soundtrack, Bruce McDonald laces this charming coming-of-age road-movie with a welcome air of nostalgia and a touch of enchanted realism.

5:00 Theatre 13

WebOUT I with @ReelKev 111 min.

Please join one of our favorite arts blogger Kevin M. Thomas who has hand selected some of his favorite web series for Cinema Diverse. The Saturday program is subtitled, "Daddies, bears, husbands and icons...oh my!" in which @ReelKev will screen about a dozen episodes from web series that range in locations from San Francisco to Los Angeles to New York. These award winning series have top award winning talent and guest stars that include soap stud Tuc Watkins, comedian Margaret Cho and TV icons Ted Lange Gina Hecht and Donna Pescow. Our featured episodes aren't short of talent and appeal: actor/writer/director Sebastian LaCause, along with former and current stars of the Village People, Broadway hunk Nick Adams, Olympian Greg Louganis, porn star Leo Forte, comedians Drew Droege, Emmy winner Bruce Vilanch, TV star Gerald McCullough ("CSI"), Wilson Cruz and Susan Olsen ("The Brady Bunch") and tons of bears, daddies, go go boys and gay husbands! The Saturday screening features the world premiere of "Gay Husbands of San Francisco."

7:30 Theatre 12

Grinder 83 min.

Grinder is a story about Luke, an innocent teenager, in search of his sexual identity. Luke leaves his abusive home in the suburbs for the promise of a modeling job in New York City and falls into the dark world of New York nightlife. Grinder stars Brandon Ruckdashel, who was Riley in THE LAIR on HereTV! and Zack in COED CONFIDENTIAL on HBO/Cinemax, Jon Fleming, who was Adam in DANTE'S COVE and Russell in WILL AND GRACE, and introduces Tyler Austin.

7:30 Theatre 13

WebOUT II with @ReelKev 113 min.

Get your binge on with our very own Kevin M. Thomas, arts blogger who shares his love and knowledge of web series will be shared with Cinema Diverse by offering over 10 hand-picked episodes form the best of the web.The Sunday program is a smorgasbord of LGBT interests and we've managed to tie in some LGBT musical series as well. "Dyke Central" offers a slice of life among Oakland lesbians and their friends while "Her Story" and "Brothers" are wonderful trans series that shows comradery, prejudice and acceptance. "Coffee Shop Chronicles" runs the gamut of LGBT topics and our featured episode is a definite standout. Soap operas have found a new life on the web and "Venice" brings together many of TV superstars, telling LGBT stories without network censorship. Gay youth and coming out is showcased in "Throwaways." Acceptance is set to music with high school "The Hinderlands." "Break" and "City of Dreams" round out other musical web adventures while "Bi" has all bases covered, following the dating life of an appealing young man and his gay, straight and bi friends. This WebOUT segment also includes the world premiere of the riotous comedy "Persianality."